Chapter 71: Extra 1: Daily Life After That
(1) After the War
"Hey, did you hear? There was a huge explosion in Tokyo two days ago, and it suddenly snowed."
"No way? It's already July!"
"It's true. My friend saw snowflakes in Tokyo. It was raining that day, but the temperature suddenly dropped that night. Not long after, the sky was suddenly lit up by flames, as if it were daytime. They say there was a factory explosion and a fire."
Early in the morning, I listened to my classmates gossiping and I broke out in a cold sweat.
"Wow, that sounds a bit scary, right, Jiu Jing?"
"Uh-huh……"
Kirihara was not late today, a rare occasion. He sat in front of the desk and chatted with me casually: "By the way, aren't your relatives in Tokyo? Is everything okay?"
"They're fine." The next day, my aunt passed by the ruins on her way to work and was a little worried. She even called me to remind me. It made me feel a little guilty.
After all, Saburo and I were involved in the so-called Tokyo factory explosion and the July snow incident!
But this is not the most embarrassing thing.
"Does the Tokyo explosion have anything to do with Homura?"
When I was eating lunch at noon, Xiao Jinghua suddenly said this, which really made me sweat all over.
If I admit it, it would be a leak. If I don’t admit it, she and I are friends and she will definitely be able to see it.
"…It's related to zone-00." After a long pause, I finally gave in and gave a small hint. "Have you guys not been investigating that thing lately?"
She took a sip of juice. "We got news from the Metropolitan Police Department. Both us and the Port Mafia are suspended for investigation."
Oh, that might have been done by Mr. Cong Yun and his team.
"Anyway, I think there won't be any more drugs circulating in Yokohama for a while."
"Is that so?" She lowered her head and smiled faintly. "That's great."
I always feel that her "too good" has a lot of meaning...
However, this is also a problem we encounter between the extraordinary and the daily.
"By the way, is Jinghua-chan interested in watching the national competition?"
Let’s think about how to improve relationships using normal middle school methods.
(2) Chat at the Detective Agency One Day
This was a small conversation between members of the Yokohama Armed Detective Agency on a weekend afternoon.
Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes, spilling into the unusually quiet detective agency office. Everyone, led by Dazai Osamu, sat at their desks or hunched over their desks. Even Kunikida, who usually did the most work, had not piles of paperwork at his fingertips today, but the book he occasionally pulled out for a perusal.
"Ah—peace."
"It's really peaceful."
"Peace, peace."
"I tell you, you've been too lazy."
Dazai Osamu leaned on the swivel chair and said, "If you say so, Kunikida-kun, don't you have work today?"
"Even if there's no work, I can't just sit there doing nothing. What if I get a new commission?"
"Yes-yes-" The person who said this started turning his chair.
"I'm back."
Just then, a girl's voice was heard from the door.
"Ah, welcome back, Kagami-chan." Nakajima Atsushi breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the door to greet the girl who hadn't come to the detective agency this morning but had gone to Tokyo to watch the competition. "The national competition, the preliminary round is today, right? How was it?"
"There are a lot of people." Jinghua paused, "The competition is very interesting."
After she said that, the others also became interested.
"How is it interesting?"
"I used Okinawan martial arts when playing tennis."
"……ha?"
Nakajima Atsushi recalled what he'd heard from Kyoka last night about the schools they were competing against in the preliminary rounds: Rokkaku Junior High School in Kanto and Higa Junior High School in Okinawa. Sure, there were schools in Okinawa, but... what was that Okinawan martial arts technique used in tennis?
Dazai Osamu: "Great question! What kind of martial arts is it specifically?"
"The Shrinking Earth Technique is what the coach at Rokkaku Middle School said."
Nakajima Atsushi: “…” It feels like this tennis match has become mysterious. Wait, is this a national competition for junior high school students?
"Wow! That sounds interesting." Miyazawa Kenji, who was also younger than him, didn't think too much about it. "I want to go see it too!"
Nakajima Atsushi smiled and said, "Speaking of which, is Homura okay lately?"
In early July, Tokyo was rocked by a massive explosion and bizarre weather. It's said that the sky toward Shinjuku was ablaze that night. Considering Jiu Jingyan's only family was in Tokyo, even though Jinghua had said everything was fine, Nakajima Atsushi was still concerned.
"Fortunately, the tennis club has had a lot of training recently, and she's been going along."
In fact, it's not just Jiu Jingyan. Xiao Jinghua from their detective agency made friends at school, which is rare. Although she is not a member of the tennis club, she goes to help out quite frequently.
"I see."
As her roommate, Nakajima Atsushi was very moved to hear various stories about campus life from Jinghua.
"It seems like my chances of dating my boyfriend have increased recently."
“Really…eh?”
“Eh——————!!!”
Nakajima Atsushi: "Kyoka-chan, whose boyfriend are you talking about? Eh? Eh???"
"It's Homura's."
Kunikida: "Huh?! She has a boyfriend? Wait, is that Hitsugaya Toushirou? Have you met him?"
"Um."
Dazai Osamu: "What? That person actually exists? What does he look like?"
Jinghua looked at the three adult companions surrounding her and thought silently for a while.
"He's a handsome guy."
“Is this true?!!”
"Handsome guy? What type?"
This is great, it has attracted the rest of the girls in the office as well.
The rare leisurely afternoon atmosphere of the Armed Detective Agency had completely dissipated in everyone's gossip.
This is cause for celebration.
(3) Journey to the Honmaru
Although I was also looking forward to the day when Toshiro would officially meet everyone in Honmaru, I still felt nervous when the visiting permission was approved and he actually came.
Well, how should I put it? Even though I had already explained the whole story to the swords and repeatedly warned them not to cause trouble, for some reason, on the day of the visit, my sixth sense started to alarm me from the very beginning.
"What's wrong? You look worried?"
Because Toshiro is a Shinigami, the responsibility of opening the tunnel to Honmaru falls on Mr. Urahara.
Right now, the two of us are in the basement training ground of Urahara Shoten, waiting for the gate to be adjusted and open the correct path.
"No, no. I'm just a little worried." Maybe, possibly, probably, those guys won't cause me trouble, right?
"Hmm—really?"
As a result, Dong Shilang actually laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"
"It's rare to see you like this, I find it quite amusing." He crossed his arms, "They are the swords who raised you. No matter what they do, even if it means they don't welcome me, it won't be strange."
"ah?"
He glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. "You don't think they have any problem with my visit, or even welcome it?"
No, not really, but——
"Well, actually I told them in advance."
"Then let's make a bet and see if they will listen to you."
As it turned out, he was right.
As soon as I crossed the Lingzi Passage and arrived at the familiar Honmaru gate, I saw a scene that could be described as outrageous.
"Welcome back, my lord!"
Led by Hasebe and Yamaubakiri Kunihiro, all the swords of my Honmaru were dressed in formal attire and neatly arranged in the open courtyard in front of the gate.
"Welcome back!"
Oh my god, I told you not to make a big fuss, but these people, no, these knives didn’t listen at all!
"You, what are you doing?"
"My lord, I apologize deeply, even though you said you wanted us to treat Hitsugaya-sama with a normal attitude." Oshikiri Hasebe, dressed in his now-transformed, priest-like combat uniform, stood at attention at the front of the group. "But! Neither I nor anyone else can maintain a normal attitude."
"Hahaha, let me explain next."
Behind him, Mikazuki Munechika came forward at the right time.
"Since my colleagues, led by Hasebe, are unable to treat this reception with a normal attitude, I have ventured this suggestion."
He covered his face with his sleeves and smiled with his crescent-shaped eyes.
"Since we can't agree, let's use the simplest method to confirm each other's determination."
………………No way?
"That's right, Lord Hitsugaya. Please challenge us to a duel!"
It’s true!
What are these guys thinking?!
I looked for help at California Qingguang, who was closest to me, but he turned away guiltily.
"Well, actually, I am a little unwilling to accept this. After all, we have watched the master grow up."
"Master, do you think we're outnumbered and taking advantage of someone's vulnerability?" Even Yamaubakiri Kunihiro, my closest and most open friend, didn't side with me this time. "Don't worry, it's just sparring at the practice range. Besides, not everyone is participating in this duel."
As if in response to his words, Mikazuki laughed amiably, "Hahaha, forget it. I'm old and my physical strength isn't good either. Besides, I quite like this captain."
"How is it, Captain Hitsugaya?"
"OK."
????? ?????
"Didn't I tell you that?" Dong Shilang looked at me speechlessly, "You don't really think they have no opinions at all, do you?"
Woo woo woo woo, I'm already starting to feel like crying!
"Well, you, if you can't hold on, don't force it!"
Although I know that as the captain, he must be very good in kendo and physical fitness, but I still feel a little guilty.
"Also, please show mercy..."
To be honest, with so many swords in Honmaru, there are relatively few people who want to practice fighting with Toshiro.
Aside from Ichigo Ichijin, Ran, and Maeda, who I've been with for a long time, no one else in the Awataguchi faction got involved. Of course, it could also be because Ichigo Ichijin, as the eldest brother, represented everyone in the fight.
The ōdachi, spear and naginata were surprisingly stable. Except for Hotamaru and Iwarong, no one else participated in the duel.
There were many katanas and katanas. Some of them had been with me for so long that, like an old father, they just couldn't accept the fact. Some simply wanted to have a sparring match with Toushirou, the captain.
The sound of wooden swords clashing was incessant in the training ground, and my heart was pounding as I sat outside watching the fight.
However, halfway through this wonderful duel, I was dragged into the inner room by Mikazuki and Jiro Tachi to change clothes.
In addition to the duel, this group of people actually prepared a banquet!
"Since it's a party, we must dress up!"
Saying this, Jiro Tachi, along with Ran who was waiting inside the house, began to groom me from head to toe.
Anyway, by the time I came out of the inner room after changing into an exquisite furisode that I rarely wore, with my hair tied up and a hairpin in it, and even putting on makeup, the grand showdown in the practice room had already ended.
Hasebe and the others were taken away by the swordsmen who were watching the battle. I saw Toshiro leaning against the wall with his eyes closed to rest, and his bamboo sword was placed aside.
Because he was visiting today, he was not wearing a haori. When he got closer, he saw that the boy's forehead was covered with sweat.
Even though it was a sparring match, he didn't lose, but after fighting for so long, he would surely get tired.
The moment our eyes met, I saw Toushirou's eyes widen in surprise.
"Yan, you..."
"Ran and Jiro-nii gave me this to wear. Is it weird?"
The other party was silent for a moment in a strange manner: "No, it's very beautiful."
I pursed my lips, my ears felt a little hot, and I simply knelt down in front of him.
"Thanks a lot."
"fine."
Humph, you're just being stubborn. You're obviously sweating all over!
Well, I don’t have a towel or anything. How about going to find one now?
"Oh, you two are here."
"Ah, Mikazuki." I waved hurriedly at the person coming. "Can you help me find a towel?"
Unexpectedly, Grandpa smiled and said, "That's not necessary. We have also prepared clothes for Captain Hitsugaya."
ha?
Then I watched helplessly as Toshiro, who also looked confused, was taken away by two small short swords, leaving only Mikazuki Munechika looking at me with a smile in the practice room.
"It's a party after all, how can we allow our guests to be so embarrassed?"
"Tell me the truth, Mikazuki." I pouted. "You did it on purpose, didn't you?"
"Oh, Grandpa, I don't understand what the little girl said."
Humph, still playing dumb.
"But seeing the little girl so happy makes me happy too." Mikazuki said, patting my head. "That's great, Homura."
"……Um."
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Author's Note: Hmm, it's time to start adding extra chapters! These are basically stories that happen after the main story ends, but this time they're just a collection of snippets. Honmaru's visit could be a full-length story, but I think it's nice to leave some space for your imagination to fill in the blanks.
By the way, the swords standing at the door waiting to fight Xiaobai was a plot decided at the beginning, hahahaha.
After that, there might be a summer date, a trip back to Soul Society to visit family, and a side story about the Umihara Festival? Well, I could also write about the national tournament, but that would probably just be a weird rant about psychic tennis...
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